Entertainment News

Time is running out on the chance to star as a volunteer on the world stage at this year’s ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup, with applications set to close on Monday January 16 for opportunities at Edgbaston. For the first time in cricket history England and Wales will host two major ICC global events and the Cricketeers will be at the centre of that action, with Edgbaston hosting five games – including a semi0final of the ICC Champions Trophy. The Cricketeer programme will unite communities over two months of exciting tournament cricket.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre is already on the lookout for young actors to star in the forthcoming world premiere production of ‘Nativity! The Musical,’ which opens in later this year, before touring around the country. Following on from the huge success of the ‘Nativity!’ films, the theatre is looking for children who are confident singers, dancers and performers to audition for lead roles in the production. 

As Disneyland Paris celebrates its 25^th anniversary, Eurostar is offering great value child fares taking travellers direct to the celebrations throughout 2017. For just £12.50 each way, the discounted child tickets are available for booking from January 10-25 and valid for travel between February 20 and October 31. Eurostar’s Disney service takes passengers direct from London St Pancras, Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International direct to Marne-la-Vallée – the doorstep to the Disneyland Park – in just over two and a half hours.

Blenheim Palace is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Emanuel will be contributing to the exciting new, 'Passion for Fashion – 300 years of Style,' exhibition opening on 12th February, 2017. The exhibition is a celebration of three centuries of Blenheim related fashion and style. Emanuel will be allowing items from her personal archive to be on display for the very first time and the dress-making process for Princess Diana's wedding dress will be documented from initial sketches and designs, right up to the finished article.

U2 will return to select stadiums this year with U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017, in celebration of the 30^th anniversary of the band’s seminal album. The tour hits Europe with a show in Twickenham on 8^th July and will see the band bring The Joshua Tree back to Dublin’s Croke Park on 22^nd July -  30 years since they made a memorable return to their hometown with the original Joshua Tree Tour, playing two very special sold out shows at the Jones’ Road venue in June 1987.

In celebration of the February half term, Victorian Arcade will be hosting a very special event for Harry Potter fans on Saturday 18th February. Shoppers and their families are invited to join a Professor Snape look-a-like from 11am until 4pm when he will be hosting a free exclusive potions masterclass. Visitors will get the opportunity to follow ‘Snape’ as he leads an interactive workshop where youngsters can create their very own ‘magical’ potions.

As choirs from across the globe plan their descent on Cornwall for its 2017 International Male Choral Festival, the Hall for Cornwall has announced the ticket launch for what is now the largest event of its kind in the World. Sixty choirs of all ages and nationalities will be converging on Cornwall – with more than 50 concerts and celebrations in 40 venues across the county running from April 27 – May 1 2017. This year's Festival will also see the largest Choir Competition in the biennial event's fourteen year history.

Thirteen local arts and community organisations will receive arts grants totalling £500,000 to deliver projects in Aston and Newtown during 2017-18, it was announced yesterday. Beneficiaries from these projects will include a wide range of young residents (including early years), budding creative entrepreneurs and producers, and community elders not usually engaged in arts activities.

A family member has announced that the star of classic British hit East is East, has died in Mumbai early today. Reports say that he suffered a heart attack at his home. Om Puri was awarded an honorary OBE for his contribution to the British Film Industry in 2004. Also known for his Hollywood, Pakistani, Indian and British film roles, it was international fame that was found for his roles in British and American films, especially comedy East is East, where he played a Pakistani immigrant adjusting to life in the north of England.

The Birmingham rock legend widely credited with inventing heavy metal music has written a moving acoustic arrangement for Birmingham Cathedral after he wanted to ‘give something back’ to his home city. Black Sabbath lead guitarist Tony Iommi worked with his friend the Dean of Birmingham, the Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, on the five-minute arrangement, which celebrates peace, harmony and the Cathedral’s role in the heart of the city.

Discover the real 'Behind the Scenes' at Blenheim Palace, in a fascinating limited edition new tour for 2017. 'Restoration & Conservation' will be the theme of the guided tours which will begin in the New Year as part of the extended opening season experience offered to visitors at the Oxford World Heritage Site. The 'Restoration & Conservation' tour will be exclusively available from 9 January – 8 February 2017, running twice per day excluding Sundays. The new tours will tie in to the annual deep clean of Blenheim Palace which will now be on full to visitors during this period.

Singer and actress Janet Jackson welcomed her first child with Wissam Al Mana, her husband of four years, with a spokesperson for the singer confirming; “Janet Jackson and husband Wissam Al Mana are thrilled to welcome their new son Eissa Al Mana into the world. Janet had a stress-free healthy delivery and is resting comfortably.” Rumors of the seven-time Grammy award-winning soulstress being pregnant first surfaced when she postponed her “Unbreakable” tour telling fans “there’s been a sudden change.”

Tennis great Serena Williams and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian are engaged. A spokesperson for Ohanian confirmed that he popped the question while the two were vacationing in Rome. Williams first announced the news herself in a Reddit post on its "r/isaidyes" forum. "I came home/A little late/Someone had a bag packed for me/And a carriage awaited" Williams said in her Reddit post, which was written like a poem and had a cartoon of the couple at the top.

Guidelines designed to encourage responsible busking and street entertainment in Birmingham city centre have been formally adopted following a period of extensive public consultation. The aims and principles are captured in a document, which has been drawn up by Birmingham City Council in conjunction with Equity, Keep Streets Live and the Musicians’ Union.

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing for your New Years Eve celebrations, we hope you have a great time, and stay safe!

It has been announced that Rachael Wooding will guest star as Alice in the 2017 UK tour of WONDERLAND in Wolverhampton from Monday 31 July – Saturday 5 August. Rachael is one of musical theatre’s most impressive talents. In May this year she wowed the nation on Britain’s Got Talent with Simon Cowell proclaiming her rendition of ‘With You’ from Ghost was “the most beautiful version of the song” he had ever heard.